Insurgent Demands Show Insurgent Dispair

The US troops may have just seen another example of how they are winning the war in Iraq. It takes some critical thinking, but it is a logical conclusion.

CNN posted an article today where 11 insurgent groups in Iraq are asking for a 2 year timeline for US troops to exit Iraq. If this and a list of other requests are met, they would stop their terrorist activities immediately.

According to the article there are probably two dozen insurgent groups working in Iraq today. It is estimated these 11 insurgent groups account for up to 70% of the insurgent numbers in Iraq.

The insurgents are trying to establish a dialogue with the United States. They are interested in negotiating. Since when do people who cut off heads and kill innocents begin to negotiate? As sinister as these people are, they may have some human qualities about them. I believe they realize they are getting beat.

As financial means are cut-off or dry up, when it seems a nearly daily occurrence when 8, 11, 40 insurgents are killed, it becomes clear if the insurgents are fighting a war of attrition they will lose. American and coalition forces are still lost each week, however based on superior armament and plans, this gorilla warfare is still fairing well for the coalition. Deaths are meaningful, yet minimal relative to any past war.

The insurgency are steadily losing their brass. Zarqawi was yet another example of our troops lethality when hunting terrorist killers.

I support a “no-timeline” war on terrorism in Iraq. When receiving news like the insurgents wanting to talk or negotiate, I support increasing the iron fist. Terrorists may only understand strength. If we consistently respond to their showing of strength or weakness with increased military strength, I believe the terrorists will continue to get the hint the US is not going to leave. The only option for the terrorists will be die or give up.

President Reagan understood “Peace through Strength”. So does our President Bush.

Hard Questions for Carl Levin

On Fox and Friends, Brian Kilmeade was in a professional yet heated question/answer session with Senator Carl Levin about troop reductions and when they should start or who should make the call.

I could not get a link, however the title of the video is "Stay the Course?" and is in the "Fox News 24/7" box at FoxNews. Bravo to Brian Kilmeade for his questions and not giving up to get an answer out of Senator Levin. Just so happens, Senator Levin never gave Brian a straight answer. But the good Senator sure knows how to dance.

Not Evil, Angry

It has been a long time coming. Let me be honest, I wanted Ward Churchill to lose his position at CU Boulder since I first read his vommotous words. I knew nothing of his plagiarism at the time. We need to remember how he came to attention.

It was January 2005 when Professor Ward Churchill first made news when he described some who died in the towers on Sept 11, as "Little Eichmann's". This is where it started. You can read a general cronology of major events and statements by others involved at Political Gateway.

Here is FoxNews article.

Michelle Malkin was the only place I could find pics of both Churchill's plagarism of art; "Winter Attack" and "Little Big Man."

A response to the Churchill subject I think is worth reading, author Anthony Lappe.

If you have read enough articles and opinions, including Ward Churchill's interviews and explanations you can make your own conclusions. Maybe Professor Churchill was really just trying to write a philosophy essay? Maybe he was trying to portray himself as an inward looking person. However I just do not believe this explanation. Until I talk to him in person and get a different gut feeling, I would have to say Ward Churchill is maybe evil, definately angry.

The Living Wage Fallacy

Who is living in more squalor, Craig (top photo) or Dave (bottom photo)?

The minimum wage law is again in the news. There is a new term in the country's vernacular, "living wage".

Time Magazine always appears to have a mixed bag of pro-market writers and those against the market. The cover story, India Inc., about India's free market explosion appears pro-market. It is a well written piece which celebrates the newness and energy of the working class and new wealthy citizens of India. The economy is being driven by people who are behind the steering wheel of their own lives. As they are pursuing their own, selfish means, they are actually growing the economy together and fewer are being "left behind."

However their are a couple articles in this week's issue which are not pro-market in any form.

The articles suggests Pittsburgh is an example of the benefits of paying higher wages for low skilled labor. In Pittsburgh it states low income neighborhoods are on the improve, janitor bought home ownership is up 37% in 15 years and there are fewer families living below the poverty line. Time interviewed a janitor in Pittsburgh who has union negotiated wage of over $12.60/hour!

The article does in fact come clean when it cites pro minimum wage ideas are promoted by "liberal-leaning" groups such as the Economic Policy Institute and the Fiscal Policy Institute." These orgs claim by raising minimum wage it will have no effect on the number of jobs available.

"Daniel Radford, who served as executive secretary of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council... laments that the standard of living for workers in his hometown has failed to keep pace with that of similar workers in Pittsburgh. "They've got high union density, politicians in their pocket and strong community support... But Cincinnati is completely different. It's a tough town for workers."

MoreThanCorn cheers Cincinnati for being a tough workers market. The tougher the market, the better the workers and the more inspiration for workers to educate, re-educate, start a business or get a second job until they find the better job.

The next paragraph states "Craig Jones knows that firsthand" (Cincy's tough worker market). He lives in Cincinnati and is a janitor. "It is 10pm and he is back home after another four-hour janitorial shift. He microwaves a Stouffer's dinner and grabs a Coke from his cabinet. He has been looking for a better-paying job during his off-hours but hasn't found one, so he is pinning his hopes on the Justice for Janitors campaign. 'I'm not looking for a handout,' he says. 'But I feel like I'm stuck.'"

From one Jones to another, I think Craig is looking for a handout. The photographs of him standing at work with trash bag in hand and him sitting on a mattress at home show a couple things to me. The jersey he is wearing may be $100+. He has watch on his wrist, possibly a gold chain on the neck and atleast a $10 dew rag on his head. It is difficult to tell what kind of brand name jeans he is may be wearing and the broom head is conveniently covering up identification of the shoes. Time magazine photo-shopped the jersey in the front. Why? It does make it more difficult to identify the team, brand and therefore the actual price tag of the jersey.

Craig's last quote "...but I feel like I'm stuck..." shows the his mental position. He has given up. He is age 27 and has no will to succeed. Time states "...so he is pinning his hopes on the Justice for Janitors campaign..." which is a organization of pro-living wage janitors who are trying to organize other janitors into unions. This is pathetic and unAmerican. Craig is waiting for someone else to do something about improving his situation. He only works 5 days a week and 4 hours a day according to the article. Why does he not go get another job for an additional 4 or 5 hours each day. He could double his monthly income.

After college I was working a job making $6.00/hour. I needed more money after working 40 hours so I found a second job delivering subs on a bike. I also did seasonal Christmas work folding t-shirts at local retailer. I worked 55-60 hours a week, but I made enough to cover bills and save a little. This was done until I figured out what I was going to do with my life. I did not want to make $6.00/hour for very long. The low wage and many hours was inspiration for me to make decisions, work smarter and not harder. It forced me to take risks. It was difficult but this process of making something of yourself, by yourself is just a repeat of what has happened millions of times before me.

Lou Dobbs of CNN wrote an article about the nixing an increase in the minimum wage law . He also talks about the "living wage". "Congress stiffs working Americans" He states the minimum wage should be raised because it has not been raised in years. Dobbs sights the Fiscal Policy Institute (TIME pointed out they are a liberal organization) as research supporting his article. Lou Dobbs seems to be a classic example of journalist trying to make an economic argument. He failed in my eyes, however he may be pandering to those who love taxation and social welfare spending.

Uncivil Rights also has a reasonable opinion on "Living Wages." He adds depth to this post by discussing the tierchary effects of artificially raising wages to unskilled workers. The costs of all products would no doubt rise as janitors all over the country demanded more pay.

The picture Time adds to the article for Craig makes him look like he is living in squalor. No furniture and no pictures or posters on the wall as he sits on his futon thinking.

Let's see what a picture is really worth;
Craig's photo above (see top of post), smoking, wishing someone would rescue him.

The second picture is a staged picture showing C. David Jones living in equal squalor as is Craig. The difference is C. David is reading about Minimum Wage Laws in Henry Hazlitt's, Economics In One Lesson. C. David does not make excuses and looks for new success. He is not waiting for anyone to give him a handout or even a break. Not everyone can be like Craig. Someone has to make a lot of money, to be taxed heavily and to pay for other's laziness and then pay the $12/hour a union wants for their janitors.

If Craig gets his $12/hour, he will be more likely to be content emptying trash cans and spraying windex on windows the rest of his life. Yes, someone has to do the work. Low wages for janitors are good for the individual janitor. In the short run they make less money and God forbid they have to work harder or get a second job. When I made $6.00/hour it motivated me to move on and find success. It will inspire us to make tough decisions which often leads to more prosperity.

One should be working hard and raising themself up to a higher paying job. They should not expect or hope for a job's pay to rise to meet their demands. A living wage can be attained through hard work, in whatever form it must take for Craig to succeed.

Craig, if you ever read this, send me your address. I will mail to you copies of two books I use for inspiration for my own successes;

Economics in One Lesson, Henry Hazlitt
Young Millionaires, Forbes Magazine

Response from Professor Wycliff of Notre Dame

My email:
(June 22) "Please confirm the facts which O'Reilly is claiming.
Thank you
C Dave Jones
MoreThanCorn.blogspot"


Professor Wycliff response:
(June 23) "Thanks for writing.....dw"


No Mr Wycliff, thank you for clearing this up for me.

Notre Dame's Don Wycliff, Canceled spot on O'Reilly?

On Bill O'Reilly;


Don Wycliff, Professor at Notre Dame in Media, wrote in the Chicago Tribune June 22, 2006 editorial, ...but if you put the blame where it really belongs (for the death of Menchaca and Tucker), you (O'Reilly) have to say bad things about some people for whom you have been a cheerleader. It's ok, Bill. Nobody who cares about the truth takes you seriously anyway."

Per O'Reilly on his show, states Wycliff agreed to come on the show and then canceled one hour prior to airing. O'Reilly advised Wycliff to not make personal attacks and then refuse to defend them, "Cowardice is not becoming."

Is this true Mr. Wycliff?

"500 WMD Munitions, Not Stockpiles"

I remember reading about 12 munitions filled with Sarin gas which had been found in Iraq just after American troops arrived. If I remember correctly the delivery systems were found to have a stamp of a French company.

Listening to Hugh Hewitt this evening on the way home from work and dinner I heard the last segment of an interview with (R) Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. I learnt there had been found approximately 500 total munitions thus far since 2003 and more were likely to be found. Read the information released thus far on Rick Santorum's website.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200606/NAT20060621e.html

While this information appears to me as critical, I am anticipating the arguments now of their legitamcy. Two possible arguments;
1) "This information and the declassified report has been cooked up by the Bush Administration. It is awfully coincidental as President Bush's pole numbers have sunk to recent lows, he now brings this information out to prop himself up."
2) Yet the most anticipated argument is: "500 munitions is by no means "stock piles".
I anticipate Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi or Edward Kennedy to chant this fight song.

My argument is this; "How do you define weapons of mass destruction." How few or many munitions are needed to a nation to officially contain WMD? When the 12 munitions of Sarin gas was found in 2003, I agreed this was by no means stock piles of Sarin gas. But is it still not a WMD munition?

I argued with a friend over the definition of WMD. We discussed the definition of WMD and we agreed a quality definition for your everyday American may be; A weapon of non-conventional (gases, nuclear) means which has the ability to cause mass casualties. We then further defined mass casualties. It took some deal making but we agreed, if in one episode or instant, 1000+ people were killed by a non-conventional weapon, then this could be considered WMD.

Neither one of us knew whether one Sarin filled munition could kill 1000 people, however my gut feeling is it could. At minimum the use of 10 or 12 Sarin filled munitions in one attack would most definately meet the definition of the use of WMD.

Now apparently 500 have been found. Could any reasonable person still say, "there was no threat from Saddam... there were no WMD?" We shall see.

If the Democrats continue to circle the wagons around the "Bush lied, people died" camp. They will be slaughtered in the next elections and beyond.

Donations Increase in 2005

Stephanie Strom from the New York Times wrote the article and I picked it up from the Arizona Republic. "Disasters fueled increase in 2005 donations, report says". Using the NYT search engine I was not able to find the article's link even though it was just published today. So I will type pieces without losing Mrs Strom's message:

"Charitable giving increased last year, propelled by a series of natural disasters hat home and abroad...

Individuals and institutions gave away an estimate $260.28 billion in 2005, a 2.7 percent increase on an inflation adjusted basis over the prior year." This date was collected American Association of Fundraising Counsel and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

"From December 2004- October 2005 an estimate $7.37 billion was donated to address the ravages of natural disasters.

Without disaster-related philanthropy, however, giving would have been flat. The stock market increased only moderately last year, and personal incomes fell for the second year in a row."

Richard Jolly, chairman of Giving USA stated "Instead, people gave over and above what we expected in response to the disasters.

The trend was echoed among corporations, whose giving jumped 18.5 perent, adjusted for inflation, to $13.77 billion. Many companies enjoyed record profits last year, which they shared with disaster victims and relief groups."

This should have been front page news if the NYT or the Arizona Republic wanted to be fair. As much corporation bashing and American-European comparing as I read from both papers, this shows Corporate America and Joe American are record setting givers.

I do not believe incomes went down for the second year in a row. My income went up. So did everyone I know whom I have asked. Increase in income (with consideration of inflation) is at 100% representation among my peers. And I work in tight-belted insurance.

I Surely Agree

After the reading of the column by Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne “A Shift Among the Evangelicals”, I had concerns over his ascertations.

Below in italicized-bold are important segments of the column;
“Mr Dionne suggests, ‘The mellowing of evangelical Christianity may well be the big American religious story of this decade.’”

But Page's upset victory could be very significant, both to the nation's religious life and to politics. He defeated candidates supported by the convention's staunchly conservative establishment, which has dominated the organization since the mid-1980s. His triumph is one of many signs that new breezes are blowing through the broader evangelical Christian world…. "I believe in the word of God," Page said. "I'm just not mad about it.”

The evangelical world is going through a quiet evolution as believers reflect on the perils of partisanship and ideology and their reasons for being Christian. This will probably affect the nation's political life, but it will certainly affect the country's spiritual direction. My hunch is that not only moderates and liberals but also many solid conservatives welcome the departure.
Mr Dionne’s writes, “But the evangelical political agenda is broadening as new voices insist on the urgency of issues such as Third World poverty and the fights against AIDS and human trafficking.”

I have not attended church every Sunday for last few years, and am not a church-hopping person. However I have attended numerous Lutheran, Baptist and Catholic churches in the last 10 years due to travel or with Catholic roomates. Like their diverse membership, the Lutheran and Catholic churches across the country do have dissimilar practices. The messages stressed within the service and sermon, are sometimes disparate. The sacraments (communion) is not consistent in meaning and this lack of consistency has been an ongoing debate since before Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. However there has been a number of consistent messages among all denominations. This consistency is the promotion of charity.

Growing up in Indianapolis my family attended Trinity Lutheran on 16th Street. In an average East side neighborhood in the 80’s and 90’s, I remember the 70+ year old pastor, the late Walter C. Maas standing in the pulpit and teaching us the importance of tithing and charity. Before going to college I remember attending a service at Trinity with the current minister, Pastor John Herfurth. Pastor Herfurth came to the church in the early 1990’s and also touted the benefits and economic efficiencies of the charities for which our church approved.

Pastor Maas had called Trinity his home church for better than 40 years and Pastor Herfurth was not yet himself 40 years old. Maas was without a doubt the old school Lutheran pastor. He preached at the same church for nearly his entire pastoral career. Pastor Herfurth was young and an excitable pastor. Different “school” however in the 40 years separating their schooling at the seminary, it was apparent the core was consistent. Tithing and charity, concern for the “down-trodden” was among the core. Frankly, the phrase “others less fortunate” was so often a topic of discussion at church, this phrase is a bite of sound which I find myself repeating to this day.

Trinity was not the only church with concern for others less fortunate. Just 2 weeks ago, when attending Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee, Arizona, the children’s message was about non-other than tithing. The sermon, hungry and poor folks in Africa and and a segway into a video presentation at the end of the service. The Mountain View endorsed charity, Compassion International, was an adoptive program to feed, clothe, educate and buy a bible for a young person. There were about 100 children who needed sponsors.

After finding a child to adopt, I stepped away from the table displaying the other children. I looked at the line of people. Wealthy Christians stood impatiently in line, eagerly waiting their turn to read the biographies and pick a child to support.
I have seen this same spirit for at least the last 20 years. I am confident the church has been consistent in this for decades before.

However the picture Mr Dionne paints of an average "Evangelical" is not like the above desciption. From a reasonable conservative and Christian, I do not know who he writes about? Maybe Baptists are more “angry” than Lutherans. The answer could just as easily be maybe not. I am not naïve to think there are some churches and individuals who may fit the Mr Dionne column, I just do not know any of them. As for the “mellowing” of the evangelicals. No, I disagree. I surely agree if Mr Dionne had used “watered down”, regarding the endangered story of faith and the “good news”. I honestly hear fewer “John 3:16” messages than I used to hear. This is what is alarming and the decades biggest story. Maybe I will ask 7 year old Deric Wahome of Kenya what he thinks of Evangelicals and this salvation stuff.

Isaac Schrodinger's Response, "Pic of Zarqawi..."

Read the June 10th post: "Pic of Dead Zarqawi, Against Muslim Religion?"
Below is Isaac Schrodginer's response date June 11.


« If It's Good, It's Haraam | Main | Natural Murderers »
Saturday, June 10, 2006

Here goes: I had always been nervous of going out and taking photos in Saudi Arabia. Why? From what I knew, that activity was not appreciated. Whether it was illegal or not, I didn't try to find out.
I have read various Pakistani publications in which it was repeatedly said that photography of any life is haraam. Of course, reality kicks in when people need photos for passports and IDs. Also, photos of the king and other top members of the Saudi royal family are displayed in the airports and photo shops in the kingdom.
However, if one has to be honest about Islamic rulings, then taking photos of men, women, and animals is strictly forbidden.
Here's the "logic" from Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
A devoted reader of the Mufti asks:
Dear Respected Mufti, Assalamu'alaikum, My husband and I have stopped taking pictures since reading your fatwa that it is impermissable. We still have pictures in albums that we took a long time ago -- Must we throw these out,...
The Mufti responds:
These pictures should be destroyed.
So, showcasing pictures of Zarqawi (or any other animal) is not permitted by Islam. One wonders why Saudi Arabia doesn't have a movie industry.
Oddly enough, in my previous post, I linked to a piece in which a "fake but accurate" and pesky Muslim notes:
After dinner, Suhaila and Mary clean up the dishes in the kitchen. Suhaila notices that Mary has random photos of Mo, family, and herself on the refrigerator held up with magnets that depict forest animals. Suhaila thinks posting pictures and anything with images representing life is haraam.
There you go. Under Islamic law, this innocuous website would be banned.

Zarqawi's Death & Long Term War on Terror

I don't know about the long-term benefits of Zarqawi's death? It is reasonably arguable either way and none of us really know.

Here is my opinion; Place yourself as a member of a group peaceful OR criminal. Whether for justified reasons or not, if your President or Vice Pres had a bomb dropped on his head or a bullet went through his head. Later would heard it was a foreign nation's military or maybe the mob. Either way, does it not become apparent to you and your associates "someone wants to shut us up". This undoubtedly has an negative effect on group dynamics does it not?

Of the members in any group there are always those who would do anything for the cause, some on the fence and those who are on the way out the door. Adding the death of a member, let alone the leader, would likely embolden some and recruit through martyrdom, however it is just as likely for the "fencers" to call it quits and others who would be no-shows on their start day of Al Queda Training Academy.

Maybe it is a wash... But I would like to believe it is a net gain for the good guys. Murder rates in countries with capital punishment are typically low. The best example are Muslim nations.

Pic of Dead Zarqawi, Against Muslim Faith?

Many Muslims have said their religion is one of peace. I believe this and I believe the vast majority of Muslims are pieceful people. There is a large minority of Muslims who show us they feel otherwise when they support or participate in the violence seen in Iraq and coffee shop bomings in Tel Aviv.

Shortly after the death of Zarqawi was announced, it was said the posting the picture of Zarqawi's corpse on the news and around the globe was against the Muslim religion.

The backlash of this did not build much past a dull roar and here is possibly why;

No one disputes Zarqawi personally is responsible directly for extinguishing of 1000+ lives. He personally beheaded a few innocents for a video. Zarqawi is also seen in some video plannning the next strategy with his lieutenants, obviously for maximizing Iraqi citizen and US soldier casualties. Then there are pictures and video of him praying. Because the Muslim religion is one of piece I argue Zarqawi is not Muslim but just your run-of-the-mill religious extremist, justifying his bloody actions in the name of other peoples Allah.

With text and statistics http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_viol.htm from In the United States when the abortion clinic protests turned violent, especially in the middle 1990's there was a small, loud and media grabbing minority of "anti-abortion" radicals. The name anti-abortion may have grown from the large majority of "pro-life" folks who wanted to establish a definitive line between the two groups. The anti-abortionists resorted to obstruction through violence and murder, the pro-lifers also believe abortion was wrong, however their protests amounted to vocal condemnation and candle light vigils.

I will make the statement I believe a larger percentage of the pro-lifers in the US are Christian or believe in those values. Pro-lifers were peaceful people at the protests due to their moral guide, Jesus. Anti-abortionists may have invoked scripture or Jesus name in their defensive of their crimes and murder of clinic doctors. As a pro-life individual I would support the notion these anti-abortionists are not Christians at all. I don't know what they are and it is not relevant, just not Christian.

In this same argument I say Zarqawi as he stated "Allah is great" as he began cutting the neck of a fellow Muslim is not himself Muslim. 9 out of 10 Muslims I think or at least hope would agree. Therefore the displaying of Zarqawi's picture does not break any rules of the Muslim faith.

I will request the opinion of Isaac Shrodinger at isaacshrodinger.typepad.com, a former muslim.

Adult Stem Cells and Lupus

Chip Bennet found an article about treatment of Lupus with adult stem cells. See his June 6, 2006 post at www.chipbennet.net.

Bill Clinton Secretary General, Hillary President?

The is a growing buzz for who will replace Kofi Annan as UN Secretary General. Former President Bill Clinton has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Regardless of how one feels about him as a person or how he was as a President, for this issue let us turn our attention to a few ripples away from where the pebble strikes the pond. Look at effects of his entering this position.

The political strategists may be frothing at the mouth over this one, however I believe it is a simple If/Then statement: If Bill Clinton becomes UN Secretary General, then Hillary Clinton will not be President in 2008, 2012 or ever. Bill Clinton has denied he is searching for the post and according to the sometimes politically biased Wikpedia, the Secretary General position rotats amoung the 6 continentall regions. There has yet to be a North American and Oceania (Phillipines, New Guinea, Thialand, etc) UN Secretary General.

No reasonable person would simultaneously approve of a Hillary Clinton President of the US and Hill Clinton Secretary General of the UN. However, a reasonable political strategy would be Bill Clinton as Secretary General beginning 2007, serves just 1 year of his 5 year term and steps down as Hillary runs/is elected President starting January 2009.

The candidates for Secretary General are vetted and nominated by the Security Council. The UN body votes on the candidates to decide who is to become Secretary General. For matters of what appear to be balancing of power, the Secretary General post is not typically filled by a person who is a citizen of a Security Council member. Typically lesser powered countries have a representative filling the post. This makes it all the less likely the US willl have a Secretary General. It would more than likely be a Mexican, Canadian or Greenlander, or figure from a Central American country.

God References in Great American Speeches

June 6, 1944, D-Day: Dwight Eisenhower - Speech to the Troops fighting Nazi Germany

Supreme Headquarters

Allied Expeditionary Forces
Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces:
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!
Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Marriage Amendment

As reasonable as one tries to be, sometimes it takes just one person to change a mind. Changing my mind in the time it took me to read a column is not something I allow myself to often do. However, Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post did change my mind, in about 3 minutes time.

"A Ban We Don't (Yet) Need" discusses the ban of gay marriage. I am no longer for changing the US Constitution by adding an amendment for this.

Haditha - Too Little Information

Based solely on what the media is reporting about Haditha, if the soldiers involved in the now imfamous Haditha incident were to go on trial today, no one would be court marshalled. There are no damning facts as of yet.

Read the Haditha article from Hawaii Press.